In all the excitement about the PlayStation 4 Pro announcement, one detail was a matter of some debate: “4K Gaming”. While Sony repeatedly emphasized the 4K capabilities of the system, most games don’t actually render 4K resolutions. Instead, they upscale your standard images to a level that fits higher-end 4K TVs. Depending on who you ask, that’s an important distinction which changes the nature of the conversation about this console, but Sony executive Andrew House disagrees.

“I would say the majority [of games] will be upscaled – at least based on the game portfolio I have seen to date,” House told Digital Spy when asked whether native 4K games would be available for the PS4 Pro.

When pressed further on whether 4K gaming was a misleading term, House continued: “No, I don’t think so. I think that whatever the term is, it’s a question of whether people see a demonstrable difference in the game experience or not, rather than the term we use to apply to it. I think that’s what people are looking for and they’ll make their judgement as to whether that’s working for them or not.”

In other words, Sony is fine with the term 4K gaming because the PS4 Pro still marks a distinct visual improvement, even if the 4K features themselves aren’t native. As long as that improvement is noticeable to customers, it doesn’t matter what the term actually means.

While that might be frustrating to language experts, it’s worth mentioning that House also says the majority of Pro games will be upscaled – he doesn’t rule out native 4K entirely. It’s possible that while upscaling is the only feasible option right now, true 4K gaming might be in the cards in the near future.

]]>http://www.vg247.com/2016/09/17/sony-claims-ps4-pros-upscaled-4k-gaming-is-not-misleading/feed/0PS4 Pro doesn’t support 4K Blu-ray because streaming is the future and it can’t be patched inhttp://www.vg247.com/2016/09/08/ps4-pro-doesnt-support-4k-blu-ray-because-streaming-is-the-future-and-it-cant-be-patch-in/
http://www.vg247.com/2016/09/08/ps4-pro-doesnt-support-4k-blu-ray-because-streaming-is-the-future-and-it-cant-be-patch-in/#respondThu, 08 Sep 2016 21:31:59 +0000https://www.vg247.com/?p=599878PlayStation 4 Pro’s internal Blu-ray drive does not support the new Ultra 4K Blu-ray Disc format. We know this much. But why?

Speaking with The Guardian, Sony boss Andrew House said that the ability to stream 4K was a more important feature, as consumers are moving away from physical media (thanks, MCV).

“Our feeling is that while physical media continues to be a big part of the games business, we see a trend on video towards streaming,” he said. “Certainly with our user base, it’s the second biggest use case for people’s time on the system so we place more emphasis on that area.”

While PS4 Pro supports the same Blu-ray Disc specs as the standard PS4, instead of offering direct support of the new disc tech, the Blu-ray Disc Player application will instead perform high-quality upscaling of DVD and Blu-ray Disc content.

When it comes to 4K entertainment, the PS4 Pro supports 4K streaming apps for Netflix and YouTube – which are in development. Netflix is especially on the ball with 4K, as there will be over 6,000 hours’ worth of 4K content available by the end of the year.

Sony said last night it will be offering more 4K streaming options as they become available. This means that other services, such as Amazon Prime, are likely to offer the same type of 4K video content in the future on Pro.

At launch, there are no plans to provide 4K PlayStation Store movies or TV shows, but the “PlayStation Network team is looking into it.”

Furthermore, Sony said it would not be possible to add 4K UHD to PS4 Pro via a firmware update. So, if you want to watch a 4K movie you will have to stream it, we reckon.

Sony’s Andrew House “surprised” at E3 Scorpio announcement

In an interview with The Guardian, SCE President Andrew House said he was surprised at Microsoft’s decision to announce the Scorpio during their E3 press conference.

“I was surprised by the step of announcing something over a year ahead of time. The dynamics of the tech industry are such that there’s a much heavier emphasis on immediate gratification than there was. A lot of that is to do with how Apple has very cleverly and elegantly managed the ‘available now’ approach. So yes, that was a slight surprise to me,” he said.

“We experienced this ourselves, when, in 2013, very much in line with our previous strategies, we announced a concept and a name for PlayStation 4, and everyone said ‘where’s the box? How dare you?!’ That was the point we realised, well, we hadn’t changed but the world around us had.”

“In terms of the right time to talk about Neo, just like every other hardware launch, VR being a good example, it’s when you’ve got a full range of experiences that you can showcase to say this is why this product’s great and that’s why we’re offering it. And that time is not right now.

“[The PlayStation Neo is] a high-end version of a PlayStation 4, let’s be very clear about that, rather than a generational shift.”

Be sure to check out our E3 2016 hub for all the news, videos, screenshots, interviews and much more, live and direct for this year’s show.

]]>http://www.vg247.com/2016/06/16/sonys-andrew-house-surprised-at-e3-scorpio-announcement/feed/0Sony explains why PS4 is struggling in Japanhttp://www.vg247.com/2014/07/11/sony-explains-why-ps4-is-struggling-in-japan/
http://www.vg247.com/2014/07/11/sony-explains-why-ps4-is-struggling-in-japan/#commentsFri, 11 Jul 2014 15:52:36 +0000http://www.vg247.com/?p=482425PlayStation 4 arrived late in Japan compared to other regions, and since its arrival, it has been a rather hard sale since launch.

This is according to SCE boss Andrew House who told Eurogamer that while the console had a banner start, interest has tapered off since it first arrived at retail. House attributed the lack of continued sales in part to wariness of Japanese developers.

“It’s doing okay [in Japan],” he said. “There was a slight level of concern around the viability of the console market in Japan [and] we’re conscious of the fact we have not had yet the sort of groundswell of native content from Japanese publishers and developers. I view that as temporary.

“There’s definite developer and publisher enthusiasm for the platform, especially having seen the overarching success it’s had in markets outside of Japan For whatever reasons, when we were evangelizing around the platform, we were having a tougher sell with Japanese publishers and developers.”

One of the reasons PS4 is so popular in the West, according to House, is due to streaming services which have yet to make an impact in Japan.

“We’ll see over time great games coming from Japanese publishers and developers,” he added. “That’s point number one. Point number two, which is hampering us a little bit, is for a variety of other structural reasons around the entertainment industry in Japan, we’re not seeing that secondary usage. Those two are colluding together.

PS4 system architect Mark Cerny, who also spoke with Eurogamer at Develop added: “It’s because the products are not there to compel the people to buy the console. We’ll have a much better read on that a year or two after the Japanese publishers start releasing those interesting titles.”

At launch in Japan during February the console sold 322,083 units within two days, outselling PS3 by 88,443 units during the same timeframe. At present, PS4 has moved 620,000 units in Japan, and last week, outsold PlayStation 3 by only 500 units.

]]>http://www.vg247.com/2014/07/11/sony-explains-why-ps4-is-struggling-in-japan/feed/18Sony putting “significant investment” into Project Morpheushttp://www.vg247.com/2014/07/07/sony-ps4-project-morpheus-vr-virtual-reality-putting-significant-investment/
http://www.vg247.com/2014/07/07/sony-ps4-project-morpheus-vr-virtual-reality-putting-significant-investment/#commentsMon, 07 Jul 2014 11:30:01 +0000http://www.vg247.com/?p=481812Sony head Andrew House has confirmed that the firm is putting a “significant investment” into its Project Morpheus virtual reality headset.

Speaking with The Guardian, House made clear that Sony is betting big on its VR strategy, stressing, “It’s definitely more than an experiment. We’ve made some commitments; we’re putting significant investment into the product.”

The key goal for Sony is to achieve a new level of player immersion using virtual worlds, and its Project Morpheus headset, which will display those places right in front of the player’s eyes.

House went on, “We do now think that we can get to this point of delivering a magical sense of presence – where your brain tricks you into thinking you’re actually in this place. We think there’s something there that could be really, really interesting for a next frontier of game development.”

He commented on Morpheus rival Oculus Rift, which was bought by Facebook earlier this year. House argued that while developers have flocked to the device there does not yet exist a “monetisable” business model, although he championed the efforts of developers making projects for the headset in their spare time.

“It struck that me that if there’s a variety of game developers showing interest in this space then it’s probably time to jump in and see if we can play a part and give them the tools they’re looking for,” House added.

Are you convinced by virtual reality devices? Could Sony usher in a business model that makes sense for VR? Let us know what you think below.

]]>http://www.vg247.com/2014/07/07/sony-ps4-project-morpheus-vr-virtual-reality-putting-significant-investment/feed/15Mark Cerny and Andrew House to talk about what’s next in console gaming at Develophttp://www.vg247.com/2014/05/12/mark-cerny-future-of-playstation-develop/
http://www.vg247.com/2014/05/12/mark-cerny-future-of-playstation-develop/#respondMon, 12 May 2014 14:57:49 +0000http://www.vg247.com/?p=471192PlayStation 4 lead system architect and legendary developer Mark Cerny will be hosting a keynote at this year’s Develop in Brighton, together with president and Group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment, Andrew House.

Develop has announced the keynote which will be entitled “20 Years of PlayStation, 40 Years of Console Games and 100 Years to Come.” The speakers will talk about the history of the PlayStation brand, and how the original console affected the mainstream appeal of the industry.

“Mark Cerny and I will look back over this fantastic period in which console gaming became mainstream, how our experiences shaped PlayStation 4 and where the industry will go from here,” said Andrew House.

“We learnt a lot of lessons over the past 20 years, which shaped the decisions taken in designing the PlayStation 4. The Develop in Brighton conference is a wonderful opportunity for us to share some of these experiences with the industry and discuss what the future might hold,” added Cerny.

In addition, Mark Cerny will also be attending the Develop Awards 2014, during which he will receive the prestigious Development Legend award.

Eurogamer reports that Sony announced the milestone this morning, with global PS4 sales now sitting at 5.3 million. It launched here in Europe on November 29.

The site adds that Sony projected 5 million PS4 sales before the end of this current financial year, which expires on March 31. It’s currently ahead of target, and is expected to sell out once the console launches in Japan this Saturday.

In a statement; Sony Computer Entertainment boss Andrew House said, “I am thrilled that so many customers around the globe have continued to select PS4 as the best place to play throughout and beyond the holiday season. We are delighted that according to the NPD Group’s latest data, PS4 was January’s top-selling console in the United States. The PS4 system’s momentum just keeps growing stronger, and we are extremely grateful for the continued passion and support of PlayStation fans.

“February 22 sees the launch of PS4 in Japan, and I’m looking forward to Japanese fans sharing the excitement of the deep social capabilities and entertainment experiences only possible on PS4.”

As of January 24, Microsoft confirms global Xbox One sales of 3.9 million. The company has yet to update its numbers, but it will be interesting to see how the two machines stack up.

Speaking to MCV, House said that although the PS4’s launch line-up is light on new properties, early adopters know they can trust Sony to deliver in that regard.

“I do think that the early consumer is going to buy in if they sense that there is a roadmap of great content that is going to come down the pipe, and you have cited some of those games that have been announced, which are also brand new IP, which I think is critically important,” he said.

“We are more committed to new IP establishment and delivery than most other platform holders out there.”

It follows earlier comments from PlayStation’s US boss Jack Tretton, during which he said he feels heartbroken every time a consumer wants to buy a PS4, but ultimately has to be turned away as there’s no stock left.

Speaking with CVG, House said, “With PlayStation Plus, we’ve almost stumbled upon a great way to connect independent games developers with an audience.

“From what independent developers tell me, the mobile space is an increasing struggle for those looking to find an audience, so we have the opportunity to give two things to independent games developers.

“One is an opportunity to stretch their legs creatively, with differentiated interfaces and a big-screen experience. And the second thing is to connect them with an audience.”

It stands to reason that being featured in the Instant Game Collection – a batch of rotating free titles offered to PS Plus subscribers – could boost the visibility of indie teams and their output. PS4 launched with two such titles on the PS Plus slate, namely Resogun and Contrast. Would these games have been enjoyed by so many players without this exposure?

That’s certainly up for review, suggests House, “Via PlayStation Plus, the Instant Game Collection experience has taken off, because people have that joy of discovering those new, quirky experiences that maybe they wouldn’t have come across. That’s a very strong area of emphasis for us.”

House does have a strong point regarding mobile however. The influx of self-published titles in that space is making it harder for indies to stand out among the pack of clones and juggernauts like Candy Crush Saga and Angry Birds.

Could the same happen to PSN over time if now that Sony’s doors to entry have become stripped back to the frame and welcome mat?

Discuss below.

]]>http://www.vg247.com/2013/12/17/ps-plus-is-strong-platform-for-introducing-indies-to-new-audiences/feed/8PS4 has opportunity to “significantly expand” on PS3 sales – Househttp://www.vg247.com/2013/12/06/ps4-has-opportunity-to-significantly-expand-on-ps3-sales/
http://www.vg247.com/2013/12/06/ps4-has-opportunity-to-significantly-expand-on-ps3-sales/#commentsFri, 06 Dec 2013 00:00:23 +0000http://www.vg247.com/?p=432911PlayStation CEO Andrew House expects the PS4 to outsell the PS3, which has achieved over 80 million sales to date.

“It has an opportunity to significantly exceed what we’ve been able to achieve with PS3 and there’s a couple of reasons for that,” House told MCV.

“We start off with a price point that is much more consumer friendly than was there for the PS3.

“Also, one of the success stories for the business as a whole has been our ability to open up new geographies for video games over the last five years. You are seeing opportunities for new markets that we haven’t tapped into.

“The other point is that we took several years to take PS3 from being a dual function device to a multi-functional entertainment device. PS4 arrives with a full suite of those non-game entertainment services right from day one.

“And that’s important because there will be someone who wants this as a games device, but the fact it is a great place to view BBC iPlayer, for example, gives other family members reason to use it. That is crucial in broadening what the console’s reach could be.”

]]>http://www.vg247.com/2013/12/06/ps4-has-opportunity-to-significantly-expand-on-ps3-sales/feed/1PS Vita TV will take “different road to market” in the west, says Househttp://www.vg247.com/2013/12/03/ps-vita-tv-will-take-different-road-to-market-in-the-west-says-house/
http://www.vg247.com/2013/12/03/ps-vita-tv-will-take-different-road-to-market-in-the-west-says-house/#commentsTue, 03 Dec 2013 12:23:53 +0000http://www.vg247.com/?p=431824PS Vita TV is already out in Japan and is said to be enjoying modest sales. PlayStation’s European boss Andrew House has stressed that the device is still coming to the west, but that it’ll take a “different road to market.”

It follows PlayStation 4’s record-setting sales here in the UK. The console smashed Sony’s previous record, set by the PSP in 2005. PS4 is now the nation’s fastest-selling console to date.

The PS Vita TV box costs around $99 and allows gamers to play Vita cartridges and PSN content on their TV using a DualShock 3 controller.

Now, House has discussed Sony’s approach to PS Vita TV in the west with Eurogamer. He commented, “The positioning of Vita TV may be different between Japan and some of the other markets.”

“This may sound slightly counter-intuitive,” he added, “but we wanted to launch in Japan first because I feel there really hasn’t been a critical driver or device that’s driven the adoption of streaming content overall. It’s still very much in a nascent stage in Japan compared to some of the markets in Europe or the US.

“We felt there was therefore an opportunity to leverage the strengths of PlayStation Vita, which as you know is quite strong in Japan in terms of game line-up, but combine that with the features of a media streaming box, and offer something packaged newly for the Japanese consumer and possibly be at the forefront of creating a new market via that device.”

What’s your take on PS Vita TV? Is it a neat idea? Let us know what you think below.

]]>http://www.vg247.com/2013/12/03/ps-vita-tv-will-take-different-road-to-market-in-the-west-says-house/feed/5PS4 sales hit 2.1 million worldwide as Sony thanks its fanshttp://www.vg247.com/2013/12/03/ps4-sales-hit-2-1-million-worldwide-as-sony-thanks-its-fans/
http://www.vg247.com/2013/12/03/ps4-sales-hit-2-1-million-worldwide-as-sony-thanks-its-fans/#commentsTue, 03 Dec 2013 08:11:12 +0000http://www.vg247.com/?p=431708PlayStation 4 saw a staggered launch in November, and Sony has now confirmed that the console has shifted over 2.1 million units around the world.

It comes as PS4 smashed the PSP’s UK sales record to become the fastest-selling console in British history. Some 250,00 units were sold within the first 48 hours, amassing a reported £87 million in revenue for Sony.

Posting on PS Blog EU, Sony’s Andrew House spooled off some numbers for both the North American and European launches.

The console struck first in in America on November 15, selling over one million units in its first 24-hours on sale. House confirmed, “Now, with PS4′s global launch expanding to a total of 32 countries worldwide, including Europe and Latin America, I’m proud to announce that more than 2.1 million PS4s have been sold.

“It’s an impressive and record-setting accomplishment for our company and for our industry, and we couldn’t have done it without you. I want to personally thank PlayStation fans, both old and new, for your vote of confidence. The best part: the PS4 journey has just begun. In addition to an incredible line-up of PS4 games from the best developers in the world, we will continue to introduce valuable new features and services to PS4 in the months and years ahead.”

Did you pick up a PS4? What do you think of it? Let us know below.

]]>http://www.vg247.com/2013/12/03/ps4-sales-hit-2-1-million-worldwide-as-sony-thanks-its-fans/feed/33Gaikai to launch across North America in Q3 2014 – reporthttp://www.vg247.com/2013/12/02/gaikai-to-launch-hit-ps4-across-north-america-in-q3-2014-report/
http://www.vg247.com/2013/12/02/gaikai-to-launch-hit-ps4-across-north-america-in-q3-2014-report/#commentsMon, 02 Dec 2013 11:00:39 +0000http://www.vg247.com/?p=431475Gaikai has been a bit quiet recently, but one site has reported a Q3 2014 launch for the cloud streaming service in North America. If sources are to be believed, Europe will have to wait even longer.

It comes from Eurogamer, which claims Gaikai will hit PS4 in Q3 2014. The site says it’s heard the full service won’t hit Europe until 2015.

The site asked Sony’s Andrew House to comment on the state of Gaikai’s roll-out plans. He replied, “We’re on track to have a commercial service up and running in the US first within 2014. That remains the plan and we’re very much on track to reach that. But what’s important is to understand the full scope of what we’re trying to achieve and why we felt the Gaikai acquisition was important.

“Our goal is to be able to have a new form of game distribution streamed from the server side, initially to PS4 consoles then gradually moving that out to Vita. But eventually, the endgame is to have this available on a multitude of network-connected devices, essentially delivering a console-quality gaming experience on devices which are not innately capable of doing that.

“We think there’s a great opportunity to broaden the market, because you essentially remove the need to make the console purchase in order to have access to that experience. It may sound counter-intuitive, because, aren’t you replacing a business that is your bread and butter? But part of being an innovative company is being a pioneer in new forms of distribution of content, and we would like to be there first and take a leadership role.”

On the reported 2015 launch in Europe, House added, “I really can’t be specific on the European roll-out. It’s a brand new form of delivery. We need to prove out the technology, which we feel is good at its core, but we place – as I think is quite right – a real emphasis on delivering a quality experience for consumers. And that will be dependent to a degree on what the strength of broadband connection is going to be, and what our server deployment and infrastructure looks like.

“We’re hard at work on all of those fronts, but I’m not at a point right now where I can be specific about when our European fans are going to be able to enjoy that.”

]]>http://www.vg247.com/2013/12/02/gaikai-to-launch-hit-ps4-across-north-america-in-q3-2014-report/feed/3PS4: Microsoft’s policy shake-up had Sony’s House “quite literally” scratching his headhttp://www.vg247.com/2013/11/29/ps4-microsofts-policy-shake-up-had-sonys-house-quite-literally-scratching-his-head/
http://www.vg247.com/2013/11/29/ps4-microsofts-policy-shake-up-had-sonys-house-quite-literally-scratching-his-head/#commentsFri, 29 Nov 2013 09:51:51 +0000http://www.vg247.com/?p=431255PlayStation 4 is out now across Europe and the UK. Sony’s Andrew House has reflected on the fact that between generations, little has changed in the way the company does business. He feels that Microsoft’s attempt to shake things up with ‘always-online’ and DRM had the exec, “quite literally” scratching his head.

In an interview with MCV, House reflected on the fact that Sony had to make clear that nothing was changing between PS3 and PS4 – particularly in the areas of game sharing, ownership and online restrictions.

He told the site, “The one thing that surprised me most is that we were required to make such a clear statement that we were going to maintain status quo in areas that we took for granted. That wasn’t something dictated by us, that was by the moves the competition was making. That remains the largest surprise for me – how visceral that reaction was from consumers. But the fact that we had to put a stake in the ground, in an area that we felt was just common sense, still has me quite literally scratching my head.”

Somehow we don’t think he’s alone there.

VG247 spoke with PlayStation UK boss Fergal Gara about similar issues last night. You can read his thoughts on the UK launch and what comes next for PS4 here.

]]>http://www.vg247.com/2013/11/29/ps4-microsofts-policy-shake-up-had-sonys-house-quite-literally-scratching-his-head/feed/17PS4 controller interface is for the ‘hardest of hardcore’ and first-timers, says Househttp://www.vg247.com/2013/11/27/ps4-controller-interface-is-for-the-hardest-of-hardcore-and-first-timers-says-house/
http://www.vg247.com/2013/11/27/ps4-controller-interface-is-for-the-hardest-of-hardcore-and-first-timers-says-house/#commentsWed, 27 Nov 2013 10:07:20 +0000http://www.vg247.com/?p=430621PlayStation 4’s DualShock 4 controller and camera combination will appeal to the ‘hardest of hardcore’ players, as well as giving first-time console buyers a smooth entry into the format, according to Sony’s Andrew House.

Speaking with JeuxVideo, House started by hailing PS4 as a high-value proposition, thanks to the competitive console price and the raft of games that is sure to follow.

He then said of the controller set-up, “We feel that we have developed a controller interface that is equal accessible to the hardest of hardcore gamers who will get the fullest benefits out of their gaming experiences, but when used in combination with the camera or using the touch pad, is very very easily accessible even to the person that is playing games for the first time.”

Using both the DualShock 4 and PlayStation Camera in tandem will likely result in a broad spectrum of experience for the core and casual markets – for lack of better terms.

]]>http://www.vg247.com/2013/11/27/ps4-controller-interface-is-for-the-hardest-of-hardcore-and-first-timers-says-house/feed/11PS4 to be “in good supply” through holiday seasonhttp://www.vg247.com/2013/11/18/ps4-to-be-in-good-supply-through-holiday-season/
http://www.vg247.com/2013/11/18/ps4-to-be-in-good-supply-through-holiday-season/#commentsMon, 18 Nov 2013 23:48:39 +0000http://www.vg247.com/?p=427838PlayStation 4 stock will not run out through the holiday season, according to Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Andrew House.

Speaking to GameInformer, House said Sony is trying to get the console at in as many territories as possible without running short of stock – a difficult tightrope to tip.

“You try to strike a balance, particularly for us with such a strong brand in all the European countries and across the Middle East. We are ensuring that we have the broadest reach to ensure that people are satisfied, especially when they’ve been loyal to brand for so long,” he said.

Later comments from house suggested that the Japanese launch was not delayed for stock reasons.

“When we choose launch dates, we do it with very careful consideration. A huge factor in our determination is where we are seeing the appropriate breadth of great game experiences. There are just some basic differences in that highly networked experiences like online multiplay has taken off to a much greater degree in the US and European markets than it has in some of the Asian markets,” he said.

“We paid careful attention to when we had enough confidence that we would have developed from the ground up experiences that the Japanese consumer would really respond to. That was the primary decision in pushing back the launch in Japan to a slightly later time period.”

It’s important that Sony maintain sufficient supply of stock as the PS3’s launch was tarnished by shortages. I don’t know what the situation is worldwide, but you can’t pre-order one for before Christmas in Australia for love nor money.

The PS4 launched in North America last Friday, and comes to Europe and further sleected territories on November 29.

In an interview with Business Spectator, House discussed Sony’s decision to leave the camera out of launch-day PS4 bundles.

“Certainly for the earlier part of the lifecycle, the vast majority of the audience that we speak to tells us that their primary wish is for the full controller interface and there’s not necessarily a huge emphasis being placed on camera interaction,” he said.

Leaving the camera out probably helps keep the console’s price down, too; the Xbox One comes bundled with a Kinect and is $100 more expensive than the PS4.

The executive said Sony is prepared to “adjust messaging” down the track if camera controls become something the core is after.

The PlayStation Eye camera works in a similar way to Kinect, but this generation Sony has added light bars to the DualShock 4, meaning the standard pad can function like the PS3’s Move controller.

The PS4 launches in November, which is only a few weeks away. So does the Xbox One. We’re all quite excited.

]]>http://www.vg247.com/2013/10/10/ps4-early-adopters-not-interested-in-camera-interaction-says-house/feed/33PS Vita TV will see wider Asian release in China, South Korea – no western plans says Andrew Househttp://www.vg247.com/2013/09/12/ps-vita-tv-will-see-wider-asian-release-in-china-south-korea-no-western-plans-says-andrew-house/
http://www.vg247.com/2013/09/12/ps-vita-tv-will-see-wider-asian-release-in-china-south-korea-no-western-plans-says-andrew-house/#commentsThu, 12 Sep 2013 21:48:31 +0000http://www.vg247.com/?p=407606Speaking to Nikkei’s Tech On! blog, Andrew House, the president of Sony Computer Entertainment has revealed the company has no plans for the Vita TV “in the US and European market at this point”. The box will be released in Japan first due to there being “no leading company in Japan’s video streaming market” then afterwards, China and South Korea.

In particular, Andrew House expressed hopes to find success in the Chinese market for both the Vita TV and other Sony products, primarily due to the expectation that China’s ban on home console sales will soon be lifted. He said that even if the ban is dropped in say, the free trade zone in Shanghai that’ll be a massive market opportunity for Sony.

Talking about the Vita TV itself, Andrew House said it was a better solution than simply adding HDMI out to the Vita itself, as that wouldn’t make it easy for people to play local co-op. On the other hand he argued multiple users connecting up Dualshock 3’s was a pretty good experience.

Of course this is an intrinsically awkward experience for developers, as it means they have to split their attention between creating a split screen multiplayer mode for their games which works on Vita TV and one which works on the Vita itself.

]]>http://www.vg247.com/2013/09/12/ps-vita-tv-will-see-wider-asian-release-in-china-south-korea-no-western-plans-says-andrew-house/feed/5Sony president Andrew House “surprised” over initial Xbox One policies, confident about dual console launchhttp://www.vg247.com/2013/08/22/sony-president-andrew-house-surprised-over-initial-xbox-one-policies-confident-about-dual-console-launch/
http://www.vg247.com/2013/08/22/sony-president-andrew-house-surprised-over-initial-xbox-one-policies-confident-about-dual-console-launch/#commentsThu, 22 Aug 2013 15:05:54 +0000http://www.vg247.com/?p=401256Sony worldwide president Andrew House has said he is confident PlayStation 4 will holds its own in a market where two new consoles will be vying for consumer attention this holiday season.

Speaking with The Guardian, House said such rivalry is a “huge benefit for the industry,” as a whole because choice, is a “good thing.”

“At the risk of sounding over-optimistic, I think there is a huge benefit for the industry overall in having two platforms launch very close together,” he said. “It creates a large focus on our form of entertainment that wouldn’t exist unless there were these two powerful organisations, both playing in the same space.

“I think it’s already happening in that there’s so much strong interest, so much excitement and demand. Competition is a good thing for this industry, offering choice is a good thing. These are all positives.”

According to House, his comments weren’t meant to be an actual dig at the company, but to drive home Sony’s “very clear and defined,” goals with its PS4 console. He said he was actually surprised at both Microsoft’s earlier message with Xbox One, and its policy reversals not two months later.

“We constructed our E3 presentation because there was somehow a suspicion that the policies and approaches taken by our competition would create an industry trend in that direction,” he said. “The reason we made such a strong statement at E3, and continue to do so, is because we were surprised by that.

“As I said in my presentation last night, we have some very clear and defined goals about what we want this next generation of gaming to be, and what a new platform should deliver; we feel right now that we’re on track to deliver that.”

PS4 will release in North America on November 15 and in Europe and Australia November 29.

Microsoft has not set a date for Xbox One beyond the estimated November launch window.

]]>http://www.vg247.com/2013/08/22/sony-president-andrew-house-surprised-over-initial-xbox-one-policies-confident-about-dual-console-launch/feed/65Microsoft’s Xbox One policy reversals prove it has the capability to “listen” and nothing more, says Spencerhttp://www.vg247.com/2013/08/21/microsofts-xbox-one-policy-reversals-prove-it-has-the-capability-to-listen-and-nothing-more-says-spencer/
http://www.vg247.com/2013/08/21/microsofts-xbox-one-policy-reversals-prove-it-has-the-capability-to-listen-and-nothing-more-says-spencer/#commentsWed, 21 Aug 2013 20:34:09 +0000http://www.vg247.com/?p=400870Microsoft Studios boss Phil Spencer has said the firm’s policy changes with Xbox One prove the firm has a “two-way conversation” with its customer base, and nothing more.

Speaking with Eurogamer, Spencer responded to SCE president and group CEO Andrew House’s gamecom comments by stating that “certain people” are trying to turn Microsoft’s policy reversals into “something that is a bad thing.”

Yesterday, during Sony’s gamescom press conference, House pointedly said regarding Sony and PS4: “While others have shifted their message and changed their story, we were consistent in maintaining a message that is fair and in tune with consumer desires.”

Spencer said it’s nothing more than Microsoft proving it has the capability to “listen” and react to what its customer base wants.

“Certain people have tried to turn that into something that’s a bad thing about what we’re trying to do, and I just disagree,” Spencer said. That two-way conversation with gamers has to be core to who we are as a platform.

“And if we don’t have the capability of listening and reacting to what people are saying about our platform, then we’re being too disconnected from customers who make investments in our platform and the games we build

“Now, we have a vision, and we’ve stayed on that vision around the digital ecosystem we want to put on Xbox Live. It remains a core philosophy. We heard people valued some of the existing generation’s disc-based DRM, so we said we’re going to add that to the digital ecosystem we’re building.

“It meant some delays in some of the stuff around digital so we could fit in the time to get physical done at launch, but our vision remains the same.”

Xbox One is slated for release sometime this November in Europe and North America, with possible delays in other markets.

]]>http://www.vg247.com/2013/08/21/microsofts-xbox-one-policy-reversals-prove-it-has-the-capability-to-listen-and-nothing-more-says-spencer/feed/49PS4 losses won’t be “anything like the losses” experienced at PS3 launch, says Sonyhttp://www.vg247.com/2013/08/09/ps4-losses-wont-be-anything-like-the-losses-experienced-at-ps3-launch-says-sony/
http://www.vg247.com/2013/08/09/ps4-losses-wont-be-anything-like-the-losses-experienced-at-ps3-launch-says-sony/#commentsFri, 09 Aug 2013 19:33:54 +0000http://www.vg247.com/?p=396905Sony will not generate as large of a loss with PlayStation 4 as it did when it launched PlayStation 3, according to SCE CEO Andrew House.

Speaking in an investors meeting last week, and reported by Bloomberg, House told investors the pricing of PS4 will not cause as large of a loss as PS3 did at launch – the latter of which caused a $3 billion loss.

“We will not generate anything like the losses we did for the PlayStation 3,” House said, as investment in the system is “much, much smaller,” this time out, what with its PC-like architecture.

Still, Sony expects to report a loss in its game division next financial period due to currency exchange rate shifts.

Such looses will be offset in part by sales of PS4, but the firm no longer expects to break-even for the year, but expects earnings to “deteriorate significantly.”

]]>http://www.vg247.com/2013/08/09/ps4-losses-wont-be-anything-like-the-losses-experienced-at-ps3-launch-says-sony/feed/12PlayStation 4 keynote to grace Tokyo Game Showhttp://www.vg247.com/2013/08/04/playstation-4-keynote-to-grace-tokyo-game-show/
http://www.vg247.com/2013/08/04/playstation-4-keynote-to-grace-tokyo-game-show/#commentsSun, 04 Aug 2013 22:33:26 +0000http://www.vg247.com/?p=394945Sony will resume its regular role as Tokyo Game Show keynote host with an opening presentation focused on the PlayStation 4.

Although its not clear whether the PlayStation 4 session will be the main, opening keynote of the show, Gematsu reports it will be held on September 19, the first day the event is open to trade and press.

Called “The World PlayStation 4 Creates”, the showcase will be presented by SCE president and group CEO Andrew House, senior vice president Masayasu Ito, and Sony Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida.

]]>http://www.vg247.com/2013/08/04/playstation-4-keynote-to-grace-tokyo-game-show/feed/8SCE boss Andrew House discusses digital ownership, PS4 camera, importance of PSN to Sony Pictureshttp://www.vg247.com/2013/07/03/sce-boss-andrew-house-discusses-digital-ownership-ps4-camera-importance-of-psn-to-sony-pictures/
http://www.vg247.com/2013/07/03/sce-boss-andrew-house-discusses-digital-ownership-ps4-camera-importance-of-psn-to-sony-pictures/#commentsWed, 03 Jul 2013 16:17:40 +0000http://www.vg247.com/?p=385160SCE president and CEO Andrew House has said the entertainment industry need to be “very conscious” of the idea of game ownership, and what it means in the age of digital content.

“It became an expression of a little bit of concern bubbling up around the subject of what ownership means in an age of digital content overall,” he said. “We and other entertainment industry players need to be very conscious of that and very careful. Bringing it back to the fundamentals again, we need to be fair and to think of the consumer experience first.”

“There’s consumer flexibility. We have a camera which will build some great consumer experiences, especially when it’s used in conjunction with the Dual-Shock 4, but we’re not mandating that, or forcing that purchase on the consumer,” he said.

Finally, House also feels PSN will help Sony Pictures due to the 110 million accounts signed up through the service.

“With 110 million PlayStation Network accounts worldwide, that’s a substantial business opportunity for Sony Pictures to reach a different audience,” he said. “”Work is [already] under way to develop original TV-style programming content, which could be made available with some form of exclusivity to people on the PSN – essentially using PSN as a distribution network – particularly for members of PlayStation Plus.

“Where that starts to come together is that once you have a large, global network of consumers, then having access to entertainment content assets can enhance the services that you’re providing, differentiate you from the competition and provide consumers with something new and potentially exclusive.

“That makes our entertainment businesses even more important to Sony’s overall strategy than perhaps they had been in the past.”

]]>http://www.vg247.com/2013/07/03/sce-boss-andrew-house-discusses-digital-ownership-ps4-camera-importance-of-psn-to-sony-pictures/feed/8Sony’s media content policy: “if you buy it, you own it”http://www.vg247.com/2013/06/14/sony-media-content-policy-if-you-buy-it-you-own-it/
http://www.vg247.com/2013/06/14/sony-media-content-policy-if-you-buy-it-you-own-it/#commentsFri, 14 Jun 2013 17:10:43 +0000http://www.vg247.com/?p=379173President and group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment, Andrew House, believes there is an “increasing nervousness” about what ownership of media content implies, but Sony is of philosophy that “if you buy it, you own it.”

Speaking with Yahoo Games during E3, House said he doesn’t think that the hoopla surrounding the concept of ownership of late is “a storm in a teacup,” instead he said Sony takes such things very seriously.

“You could argue that it’s a storm in a teacup – a very vocal minority of passionate gamers,” said House. “This huge outpouring of feeling around the concept of ownership of content. But I have to say I don’t see it that way.

“I think we saw a lightning rod for feeling that has been bubbling up – that doesn’t just apply to games, but to entertainment overall. I think there’s an increasing nervousness about what ownership of content means, in the absence of physical goods. When that nervousness was starting to migrate into control over physical goods that consumers have purchased, that was a bridge too far.

“I want to be very clear about where we have been on this issue: I think there’s a danger that we could be seen to have reacted and capitalized on a situation. When we first announced PS4 in February, people were saying, ‘Oh, Sony’s being coy’ – almost with some implicit suspicion.

“It struck us as very odd. We had no intention of changing our position – it hasn’t changed from what it’s been for the last fifteen years. We believe that if you buy it, you own it, you’re able to do with it what you want.”

House said the firm wanted to focus on the core gamer because they are “extremely influential, passionate consumers” even beyond gaming and into other forms of entertainment. However, the Sony and House especially are very “vocal” when it comes the independent game developer – a group which the industry “absolutely needs” to counterbalance the “Hollywood blockbuster” trend in gaming.

“I am very vocal on the topic of indie games,” he said. “The industry has an increasing reliance on high-end, high-production-values games – the equivalent of Hollywood blockbuster game franchises. A creative entertainment industry absolutely needs a counterbalance to that, the equivalent of arthouse cinema – the creative, the different, the new. Our goal is to have PlayStation be the best place to foster that.”

House also hoped the online component of gaming can lead to more than just competitive multiplayer matches or co-op with friends, but “connecting players through other forms of activity: that are more altruistic.

“I appreciate that this is a bit fluffy and ‘nice’ but I think it’s a good goal to have,” he said. “Networks and gameplay could be a bit more than headshots and trash talk – although, of course, that’s all very well for those that enjoy it… my son included.”

PS4 is slated for release this holiday season.

]]>http://www.vg247.com/2013/06/14/sony-media-content-policy-if-you-buy-it-you-own-it/feed/39PS4: House warns that shortages may hit as Sony raises sales forecasthttp://www.vg247.com/2013/06/14/ps4-house-warns-that-shortages-may-hit-as-sony-raises-sales-forecast/
http://www.vg247.com/2013/06/14/ps4-house-warns-that-shortages-may-hit-as-sony-raises-sales-forecast/#commentsFri, 14 Jun 2013 11:11:57 +0000http://www.vg247.com/?p=379065Sony has increased its PS4 sales forecast following a strong showing at E3 2013. Executive Andrew House has cautioned that demand for the console could result in a shortage at some point.

The Wall Street Journal has reported that Sony has raised its internal PS4 sales projections in reaction to strong demand for the console.

Speaking with the paper, Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Andrew House warned that “demand may well outstrip supply.”

]]>http://www.vg247.com/2013/06/14/ps4-house-warns-that-shortages-may-hit-as-sony-raises-sales-forecast/feed/13PS4 finally shown during E3 press conferencehttp://www.vg247.com/2013/06/11/ps4-finally-shown/
http://www.vg247.com/2013/06/11/ps4-finally-shown/#commentsTue, 11 Jun 2013 01:41:22 +0000http://www.vg247.com/?p=376445Sony has finally shown off PS4, and some screenshots of the console as well as its DualShock 4 are below. There is also a video of Andrew House revealing it for the first time. PS4 will retail for $399 when it lands this holiday season in the US, AU$549 in Australia, £349 in the UK, and €399 in Europe.

]]>http://www.vg247.com/2013/06/11/ps4-finally-shown/feed/22Sony Network Entertainment International president Tim Schaaff announces retirementhttp://www.vg247.com/2012/11/08/sony-network-entertainment-international-president-tim-schaaff-announces-retirement/
http://www.vg247.com/2012/11/08/sony-network-entertainment-international-president-tim-schaaff-announces-retirement/#respondThu, 08 Nov 2012 19:35:16 +0000http://www.vg247.com/?p=314554Tim Schaaff, president of Sony Network Entertainment International, has announced his retirement. Sony Computer Entertainment boss Andrew House will take over his position. The sector manages online video, music, and gaming services across Sony hardware. Schaaff will remain on SNEI’s board as an external director. Thanks, Gamasutra.
]]>http://www.vg247.com/2012/11/08/sony-network-entertainment-international-president-tim-schaaff-announces-retirement/feed/0Sony may bring Gaikai to non-gaming productshttp://www.vg247.com/2012/07/04/sony-may-bring-gaikai-to-non-gaming-products/
http://www.vg247.com/2012/07/04/sony-may-bring-gaikai-to-non-gaming-products/#commentsWed, 04 Jul 2012 03:25:38 +0000http://www.vg247.com/?p=274510Speaking to the Wall Street Journal. SCE head Andrew House said Sony’s acquisition of Gaikai will empower a streaming games service running on gaming platforms, but that other Sony products are “absolutely within the frame” of the company’s plans. On a related note, House confirmed Sony expects Gaikai to continue operating as normal, meaning a deal with rival TV manufacturer Samsung is unlikely to be scuttled.

]]>http://www.vg247.com/2012/07/04/sony-may-bring-gaikai-to-non-gaming-products/feed/1“One Sony” is the new mantra for getting the firm out of financial difficulty, says Househttp://www.vg247.com/2012/06/28/one-sony-is-the-new-mantra-for-getting-the-firm-out-of-financial-difficulty-says-house/
http://www.vg247.com/2012/06/28/one-sony-is-the-new-mantra-for-getting-the-firm-out-of-financial-difficulty-says-house/#respondThu, 28 Jun 2012 16:06:00 +0000http://www.vg247.com/?p=273468Andrew House, head of Sony’s global games division, has said the PlayStation brand can help Sony financially recover, and boost the firm after reporting an annual record annual loss of £3.6 billion in May.

Speaking with CVG, House said while there is a “heightened sense of concern and urgency in the company,” over the financial situation, Sony CEO Kaz Hirai has forced the team to think about said urgency, and the team at Sony is now focused on working extremely hard at getting things back in order.

“Gone are the days when individual divisions’ concerns would somehow overreach the major challenges of the organisation overall,” said House. “On the positive side, there’s a tremendous sense of teamwork and a sense of shared objective, which is to turn around the situation we have right now. And I think we benefit from some very strong clarity from Kaz, both internally and externally, and with the same message to both.

“‘One Sony’ is the mantra: it’s about pulling together the resources of the company in the best way possible, and with no fiefdoms and no infighting to be tolerated. There’s a sense that Kaz is a change-agent: he has absolutely set out his mantra that Sony will change and he will change Sony.”

House said the Sony Computer Entertainment division benefits due to its profitability in the firm, by making a strong contribution to the financial situation.

“We feel very strongly that the area of networked and interactive entertainment is one of very strong potential growth,” he said. “That was reinforced when, as part of his very first strategy briefing, Kaz was very clear about three core areas of the business which he felt were critical to growing Sony’s presence overall. We’re fortunate enough to be one of those core businesses.

“That comes with pressure, obviously, in terms of being able to deliver, but we’re in a spot where we are making a profitable contribution, and there are opportunities for us to invest in the future.”

It was announced today that Hirai has stepped aside from his role as representative director and chairman on the SCE board in order to focus more on the company as a whole.